Kosovo’s Ministry of Justice stated on Wednesday that Serbia’s request for information on the Banjska attack in Zvečan, which occurred a year ago, is in violation of several points of the Law on International Legal Cooperation. According to Kosovo’s laws, only Kosovo’s judicial authorities have jurisdiction to adjudicate matters claimed to have occurred within the country’s territory.
On September 24 of last year, an armed Serbian group attacked the Kosovo Police in Banjska, resulting in the death of Kosovo Police officer Afrim Bunjaku. In the ensuing exchange of fire, three Serbian attackers were also killed.
Responsibility for the attack, which Kosovo considers a terrorist act, was claimed by the former vice president of the Serbian List, Milan Radoičić, who is now believed to be in Serbia.
Investigations into this case are being conducted in Kosovo by the Special Prosecutor’s Office, and sources within this institution have told Radio Free Europe that an indictment in the Banjska case is expected to be filed before autumn.
The High Prosecutor’s Office in Belgrade is also conducting investigations into this case and has requested information from Kosovo through the European Union Rule of Law Mission, EULEX.
The European Union Office in Pristina confirmed weeks ago to Radio Free Europe that it had received the request from Serbian authorities and forwarded it to the authorities in Kosovo.
In its response, the Ministry of Justice mentioned that Kosovo has never received a response from Serbia to the request made in October of last year, “for the extradition of criminals so that they can face justice in the Republic of Kosovo.”
The ministry has called for an international investigation into what it describes as “the bases for training terrorists on Serbian territory, Serbia’s involvement in financing and supplying arms to terrorists.”
The U.S. Ambassador to Kosovo, Jeffrey Hovenier, said in an interview with Radio Free Europe on August 14 that Kosovo could help hold Radoičić accountable for the criminal act.
“As far as I know, and Serbian officials have spoken about this, they have formally requested mutual legal assistance through official channels to obtain the evidence needed to prosecute Mr. Radoičić, which is in the possession of Kosovo authorities. Again, on political grounds, I would hope that the Government of Kosovo would respond to this request, because you want to ensure there is prosecution and that Mr. Radoičić, as well as others involved, are held accountable for their criminal act,” said Hovenier.
International mechanisms have repeatedly called on authorities in Serbia to hold accountable all those responsible for this case.